George Washington

On December 26, 1776, the Continental military scored a
surprise victory at the Battle of Trenton. Having retreated
across the Delaware a few weeks before, General
George Washington led American forces in recrossing the
river into New Jersey on Christmas night. The attack
early the next morning routed the garrison of mostly
German mercenaries, who had been sleeping off the
previous day’s festivities. The result of the battle was
one of the few bright spots for the Continental army in
what was otherwise a challenging year in the war of
independence against Britain.

Source: A Book of Days in American History
Posted by: Dr. Samuel B. Hoff, Delaware State University